Edward F. Rhoades

Edward F. Rhoades

8 July 1889 – 21 April 1988
Conference Cane: 1986
Age at death: 98 years, 9 months


The Reverend Edward Franklin Rhoades

Edward F. Rhoades was born in Williams County near Kunkle, Ohio on July 8, 1889. On January 9, 1919, Edward married Alice Helen Ridgeway of Williams County. In 1925 Edward moved his family to Cloverdale, Michigan, and he took a job as interior decorator for the W.K. Kellogg Company.

In 1927 Edward felt called to the ministry, and served as a local pastor at the South Maple Grove Church for two years. In 1929 he was licensed to preach and the North Maple Grove Church was added to his appointment. His subsequent appointments were Scottville, Gladwin, Chesaning, Evart, and then he returned to North and South Maple Grove. In all, he served these last two churches for 20 years. He was ordained in 1948. When he retired in 1958 he returned to the Maple Grove area and continued to pastor into his 90s.

Edward and his wife Alice had seven children. Alice preceded him in death during this conference year, and her memoir is found in this section of the Journal. Surviving him are six of his children: Ford Rhoades of Brian, Ohio; Dr. Paul Rhoades of Gladwin, Michigan; Dr. Von Rhoades of Smithfield, North Carolina; Ruth Ann King of Bellevue, Michigan; Naomi Watson of Dowling, Michigan; and Bernice Conklin of Dowling, Michigan. His son, Edgar, preceded him in death.

Edward died on April 21, 1988, at Hastings Thornapple Manor where he had been a resident for about a year. In 1986 he was presented the Conference Cane because he was the oldest minister in the West Michigan Conference.

Funeral services were held at the Nashville United Methodist Church on April 23, 1988. Those conducting the service were Dr. Lawrence Taylor, Rev. Steve Reid, and Rev. Lynn Wagner. Burial was in the Union Cemetery, Johnstown Township, Barry County, Michigan.

- West Michigan Annual Conference minutes of 1988, pp. 230-231

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